Composition and method for treating textile products



Patented Oct. 17, 1950 UNITED sins.

COME'OSITIGN AND METHOD FOR TREAT ING TEXTILE PRODUCTS William R. 'lornquist, Aiken, S. 0., and Louis H. Vandermark, Maplewood, N. l, assignors to United Merchants and Manufacturers, Ina, Wilmington, BeL, a corporation of Delaware TENT OFFICE,

No Drawing. Application February 11, 1949, Serial No. 75,966

piece, as yarn or in fiber form.

One object of the present invention is to add body, weight and handle to textile products, such as for examples, cellulosic fabrics and cellulosic derivative materials, treated in accordance therewith. Another object is to impart a natural, pleasing and attractive appearance to the finished articles; and. to enhance and improve their durability. The invention further contemplates an even, uniform and relatively permanent finish for textiles which does not require or involve any radical changes in other related finishing operations, such as for examples, in conventional bleaching, dyeing and printing.

Another object isthe production of low cost fabrics resembling or having the appearance of expensive and quality goods. That is to say, for example, it is here proposed to finish low count textile material so as to give the appearance of more expensive and closely woven or knitted fabrics; to add weight to the fibers, yarns and/or cloth while maintaining and indefinitely preserving a soft and non-rigid or flexible and pliable hand and feel.

It is a further object of the instant invention I to process material in finishing operations so as to enable it to withstand repeated washings or laundering while maintaining its dimensional stability. Other objects contemplated are to create a durable and permanent finish for fabrics, to prevent cracking under normal wear and to promote increased resistance to frictional abrasion. Further objects will appear hereinafter.

To these and other ends, as will be apparent, it is proposed to impregnate, coat, backfill or otherwise treat natural or synthetic textile fibers, yarns or piece goods, whether woven or knitted, with a composition containing a purified cellulose product, such as for example, finely divided purified cellulose derived from the wood of trees and now sold commercially under the trade-mark name of Solka Floc. Chemically the product thus identified as "Solka Floc comprises about 99.5 per cent cellulose, in the dry state, the remaining about 0.5 per cent consisting of impurities. cellulose content, about 90 per cent is alpha cellulose, about 6 per cent is beta cellulose, and about 4 per cent is gamma cellulose. The material thus described is now, and for some time last past has been, commercially available, and is sold under the trade name Solka Floc by Of the approximately 99.5 per cent the Brown Company of New York, N. Y., producers of purified cellulose for many years. Solka Floc is, and is known to be, non-abrasiveand relatively inert to acids, alkalies, and solvents.

It is practically ashless and, when bone dry, it

is at least 99.5 per cent cellulose. It is a primary product resulting from multiple chemical and physical operations and is widely used as a raw material in the rubber, plastics, adhesives, ink, protective coatings, decorative coatings, and filter aid industries.

It is known, for example, to treat fabrics with a solution of viscose, either alone or in combination with certain mineral fillers such as china clay, french chalk, or with starches and gums. In the present invention, however, an organic or non-mineral filler is preferred and is employed with the result that an improved cloth or product is obtained having a finish more durable and permanent and more attractive in handle and appearance: all as heretofore described. Stated otherwise, it has been found that where an organic filler of purified cellulose is substituted for conventional fillers, especially mineral fillers, an improved product results, such that material treated in accordance with this inventionacquires a prema'nent, even and uniform finish which is attractive in appearance and handle; which will resist shrinkage and otherwise satisfactorilyendure and withstand repeated washings or other finishing operations, and resist abrasion and cracking under tension; and which will resemble high count quality mechandise even if composed of low count material.

Briefly'stated, the invention may be practiced by applying a composition of matter containing a cellulose ether, purified cellulose filler and an alkali to the material to be treated. lhe application may be made in any knownmanner such as, for example, by padding the cloth in an alkali metal hydroxide solution. containing hydroxyethylcellulose, with a dispersion or suspension of purified cellulose in the form of comminuted particles; or by coating, filling, impregnation or otherwise treating the material with the present finishing composition so as to obtain or impart a permanent finish by treating the same with a cellulose ether, purified cellulose and an alkali.

It is preferred to apply the present composition of matter to goods in the grey, but the cloth may also be so treated after bleaching and dyeing or printing or other finishing steps,

One example of practicing the present invention may be described as follows: About 7.4% of purified cellulose filler in powder form was dispersed in an aqueous solution made from about 3.6% of hydroxyethylcellulose, about 5.0% sodium hydroxide and about 84% water. The composition was then applied or deposited at room temperature on a web of cellulose material in the grey by means of a doctor blade so as to give an overall coating to the cloth. Following such coating, the goods were soured with an acid to coagulate the deposit on the web, rinsed in hot water to remove soluble matter, kier boiled, and then bleached and dried.

Moreover, it has also been found that the amount of hydroxyethylcellulose or other cellulose ether employed may be varied from about 3% to about 8% by weight, based on the weight of the same in the dry state. The amount of the dry cellulose particles may vary from about 2% to about 12% by weight. The alkali metal hydroxide content may be varied from about 4% to about 15% by weight. That is to say, the effects of the present treating composition are appreciably decreased by going below the minimum concentrations described, while above the maximum concentrations given, less beneficial results are obtained.

A preferred range for the several components used to give a permanent finish may be given as of the order of from about 3.6% to about 6% of cellulose ether, from about 2% to about 8% of purified cellulose and from about 4% to about 6 alkali metal hydroxide.

Excellent results were obtained by using a concentration of about 3.6% hydroxyethylcellulose, about 5.0% caustic and about 7.4% purified cellulose.

Following application of the treating composition to the material, the goods may be subjected to the usual bleaching, mercerizing, dyeing, printing or other finishing processes without appreciable or substantial loss of the added cellulosic components. Moreover, if desired, the composition may be applied only to predetermined and selected portions or areas of a web, as by printing and. stencilling, for examples, so that permanent pattern effects may be produced. It is further to be understood that the compositions here disclosed may be used on a variety of materials, including cottons, rayons, cellulose acetates or other cellulosic derivatives, and other synthetic and/or natural textile materials or combinations of the same. Special dyeing effects may be obtained, for example, by coating one side only of an acetate or other cellulosic derivative fabric with the present finishing composition and subsequently immersing the material so treated in a bath containing dyestuff which will act on the coated surface, leaving the uncoated surface un-= affected. If desired, this process may be reversed and a dye used which will affect the uncoated surface, but not the coated portion. Similarly, color variations and special efiects may be obtained by coating a rayon and acetate blended fabric on one or both sides with the cellulose ether, purified cellulose and alkali composition and then subjecting the material to a dye bath.

What is claimed is:

1. Composition for treating textiles consisting of about 7.4% purified cellulose dispersed in a solution of about caustic, about 3.6% of a cellulose ether, and the balance water.

2. Composition of matter consisting of from about 2% to about 8% purified cellulose filler dispersed in a solution of from about 3.6% to about 6% of a cellulose ether, from about 4% to about 6% alkali metal hydroxide, and the balance water.

3. Cloth finishing composition consisting of from about 2% to about 12% purified cellulose in powder form dispersed in a solution of from about 3% to about 8% of a cellulose ether, from about 4% to about 15% alkali metal hydroxide, and the balance water.

4. Textile material treated with a composition consisting of from about 2 per cent to about 12 per cent purified cellulose in powder form, dispersed in an aqueous solution of from about 3 per cent to about 8 per cent of a cellulose ether, from about 4 per cent to about 15 per cent alkali metal hydroxide, and the balance Water.

5. Method of making permanently finished textile material which includes the steps of preparing a composition of matter consisting of from about 2% to about 12% purified cellulose in powder form dispersed in a solution of from about 3% to about 8% of a cellulose ether, from about 4% to about 15% of alkali metal hydroxide and the balance water, applying the composition thus prepared to the material and then fixing the composition on the material.

6. Method of treating textile material which includes the steps of depositing thereon a composition consisting of from about 2% to about 12% purified cellulose in powder form dispersed in an aqueous solution of from about 3% to about 8% of hydroxy-ethyl cellulose, from about 4% to about 15% of sodium hydroxide and the balance water, coagulating the composition on the material by scuring and rinsing the material to remove soluble matter.

'7. Method of treating a web of textile material including the steps of applying to one side only of the web a composition consisting of from about 2% to about 12% purified cellulose in powder form dispersed in a solution of from about 3% to about 8% of a cellulose ether, from about 4% to about 15% of alkali metal hydroxide and the balance water, and subsequently coagulating the ether on the web with acid.

8. Method of treating cellulosic derivative textile web material including the steps of depositing on one side of the Web a composition of matter consisting of from about 2% to about 12% purified cellulose in powder form dispersed in a solution of from about 3% to about 8% hydroxyethyl cellulose, from about 4% to about 15% of alkali metal hydroxide and the balance water, and coagulating the composition on the web with acid.

9. Method of treating cellulosic derivative textile web material including the steps of applying thereto a composition of matter consisting of about 7.4% purified cellulose dispersed in a solution of about 5% caustic, about 3.6% of hydroxyethyl cellulose and the balance water, and fixing the composition on the web.

10. Method of treating textile material to obtain pattern effects which includes the steps of depositing on selected and predetermined areas thereof a composition of matter consisting of from about 2% to about 12% of purified cellulose in powder form dispersed in a solution of from about 3% to about 8% of a cellulose ether, from about 4% to about 15% of alkali metal hydroxide and the balance water.

11. Composition for treating textiles consisting of about 7.4% purified cellulose dispersed in an aqueous solution of about 5% sodium hydroxide, about 3.6% hydroxy-ethyl cellulose and the balance water.

12. Composition of matter consisting of from about 2% to about 8% of purified cellulose filler dispersed in an aqueous solution of from about 4% to about 6% sodium hydroxide, from about 3.6% to about 6% of hydroxy-ethyl cellulose and the balance Water.

13. Composition of matter consisting of from about 2% to about 8% purified cellulose in powder form dispersed in a solution of fromabout 3.6% to about 6% hydroXy-ethyl cellulose, from about 4% to about 6% sodium hydroxide and the balance Water.

14. Composition of matter consisting of from about 2% to about 12% of purified cellulose in powder form dispersed in a solution of from about 3% to about 8% of hydroxy-ethyl cellulose, from about 4% to about 15% of sodium hydroxide and the balance water.

WILLIAM R. TORNQUIST. LOUIS H. VANDERMARK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Carroll Sept. 7, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Amer. Dyestuff Reporter for May 17, 1948, pages P344-P34'7. 

1. COMPOSITION FOR TREATING TEXTILES CONSISTING OF ABOUT 7.4% PURIFIED CELLULOSE DISPERSED IN A SOLUTION OF ABOUT 5% CAUSTIC, ABOUT 3.6% OF A CELLULOSE ETHER, AND THE BALANCE WATER. 